Who presides over hearings for Deny, Censure, Suspend, Revoke, Refuse?

• A. The Insurance Commissioner
• B. The District Court judge
• C. An independent hearing examiner
• D. A panel of attorneys

Answer: (C)

Neutral fact-finding in licensing discipline is handled by an independent hearing examiner. This person presides over the hearing, listens to testimony, reviews evidence, and applies the relevant statutes and agency rules to prepare findings of fact and conclusions of law. The agency then uses those findings to decide on whether to deny, censure, suspend, revoke, or refuse licensure.

This setup helps ensure due process and avoids bias, because the hearing examiner is not the enforcing official and is separate from the disciplinary decision-maker. The Insurance Commissioner may initiate the charges and ultimately impose penalties, but it is the independent hearing examiner who conducts the hearing itself. A district court judge would typically handle judicial proceedings, not administrative disciplinary hearings, and a panel of attorneys is less common for presiding the hearing itself in most states.